I Gotta Stay Fit

Two freshmen boys just left my room after we briefly discussed how I got shafted with my room, or as some students call it, my office. My room is in the corner of the 3rd floor, right next to the stairwell that is used constantly throughout the day; meaning I hear the opening and slamming of the door so much that I have literally grown immune to the noise. My room is in the shape of a really demented triangle, forming a awkward point in the back corner where virtually nothing can fit (except my bag that contains a change of clothes). My room has no windows and barely has room to fit the 2 tables that it does because its shaped so poorly. But I love my room. I love that it's new (my school is in its first year in this building) and that I am the first person to spend an entire year it in. I love that there is not a single other room like it in the entire building that is occupied by a teacher- the 3rd floor teacher lounge located on the opposite of the lecture hall (which my room is directly across from) is the exact shape as my room. I love that I have made it so 'me' by bringing in pictures of my loved ones, colorful carpets, comfy chairs and the coziness of the room. I love everything about it. And secretly, I think all the students do too.

Anyways, as they brought that up, one said: "Why don't you have a mini-fridge in here?"
Student 2: "Yeah- they are tons of teachers to do."
Me: "Because its not allowed."
Student 1: "Break the rules. I'd totally have a mini in here. Especially with all the other teachers that do!"
Student 2: "Yeah.... But all those teachers are fat. And that's probably why because they be keeping a mini-fridge and microwave up in their room. That's why, yeah."
Student 1: "Oh yeah. Well never mind. I just gotta stay fit. I gotta stay fit. I just do."
Student 2: "Yeah. Stay fit until your married. Then you can get fat. I'm gonna stay fit till I'm married man. Then I'll get anything I want."
Me: "Good to know guys. Good to know."

Times like these are when I am SO glad I am the kind of teachers that students feel comfortable with talking about anything, openingly and freely. I can NOT imagine how bored I would be all day, every day if all I heard about was math. Maybe that means I'm not the 'teacher' I need to be but if thats the case, then I don't even want to be that kind of teacher!

When they left my room, Student 1 looked at me and said, no joke: "I'm gonna leave but trust me, it's gonna hurt me a lot more than it's gonna hurt you. Trust me Ms. Peters."

Like I do most of the time here at my job, I smiled, chuckled to myself and shook my head as I watched them go.